Former AAP MLA Kartar Singh Tanwar approached the Delhi High Court, challenging his recent disqualification from the Delhi Assembly. Last month, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel disqualified Tanwar following a plea by MLA Dilip Pandey, who accused him of defecting to the BJP. Tanwar contends that his disqualification was unjust, as he was not given an opportunity to present his case.
Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Kartar Singh Tanwar approached the Delhi High Court, challenging his disqualification from the Delhi Legislative Assembly on charges of defection. Tanwar argues that the Assembly Speaker disqualified him without providing an opportunity for a personal hearing.
Tanwar further explained that his absence from the inquiry proceedings, initiated by the Speaker regarding the defection allegations, was due to health issues, which the Speaker was aware of.
Read Also: Ex-MLA Kartar Singh Tanwar’s Disqualification Plea|| Delhi HC Seeks Speaker’s Response
On Friday, Justice Sanjeev Narula issued a notice seeking a response from the Speaker and also from MLA Dilip Pandey, whose petition led to Tanwar’s disqualification.
Kartar Singh Tanwar, a former AAP MLA representing the Chhatarpur constituency, filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging his disqualification from the Delhi Legislative Assembly on defection grounds. His disqualification came following a petition filed in August 2024 by MLA Dilip Kumar Pandey (listed as respondent no. 2), who claimed Tanwar defected from AAP and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Speaker disqualified Tanwar on September 24, a decision Tanwar is now contesting through a petition filed by Advocates Neeraj and Satya Ranjan Swain. In his plea, Tanwar insists he has remained loyal to AAP’s original ideology but asserts that the party has significantly deviated from its founding principles.
He referenced corruption allegations against AAP leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and Sanjay Singh, stating,
“Having such leaders is an embarrassment for Delhiites and does not give a feeling of pride to the party workers… The party has already died its natural death, and the Petitioner cannot be said to have voluntarily given up his membership of such a party.”
Tanwar also raised concerns about the Speaker’s impartiality, claiming the disqualification was hastily decided without giving him a fair chance to defend himself.
He contended that the Speaker acted as “an agent of the ruling political party.”
The case scheduled for further hearing on December 9.
Tanwar being represented by Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta along with a team of advocates, while Senior Advocate Sudhir Nandrajog, accompanied by Advocate Sameer Vashisht, is representing the Speaker and Dilip Kumar Pandey.